This is the moment that a couple were left bloodied and battered after they were hit by a huge wave as they took pictures of Storm Imogen.

The pair had been snapping the freak weather at Newquay’s South Quay just after 4pm yesterday when they were knocked over by the huge wave and swept 50ft along the sea front.

The woman suffered a broken arm and appeared blooded after landing in a boat on the quayside, while her partner was washed into some railings – which fortunately stopped him from falling into the harbour.

In a series of dramatic photos, the man is knocked to the ground as the wave strikes.

(Picture: Robert Taylor/APEX)

(Picture: Robert Taylor/Apex)

Luckily, their whole ordeal was witnessed by four RNLI volunteers who immediately rushed to help the couple.

Their rescue came as teams continued to search for RSPCA inspector Mike Reid, who disappeared while trying to rescue birds as Storm Imogen hit Porthchapel Beach in Penzance, Cornwall.

The couple were rescued by RNLI staff (Picture: Robert Taylor/Apex)

His family fear that he may have fallen over a cliff and been swept into the sea.

His wife, Tracey, 45, said: ‘He loves animals and would do anything to rescue them. We are all devastated and feeling numb, but we just don’t know what is happening at the moment.’